Groundwater in Surry County contains fluoride, iron, chloride, and manganese. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and deserve your attention.
These minerals come from the sand and clay layers beneath the county. As water moves slowly through these sediments, iron and manganese dissolve naturally into the groundwater. Chloride and fluoride also occur naturally in this coastal plain geology, accumulating over time as water sits underground.
Groundwater in this county is soft and notable for elevated sodium. The sandy and clay sediments here contain sodium that dissolves into water as it passes through. Most wells in this county show this same mineral character.
Chloride, fluoride, iron, and manganese are found at levels exceeding EPA health standards in wells across this county. Chloride and fluoride at high levels can harm your kidneys and bones over time. Manganese can damage your nervous system with long-term exposure. Iron and manganese together create additional health concerns when consumed regularly.
County wells show high sodium levels, which is a quality-of-life concern for people managing salt intake in their diet. The water here is soft, so you won't see heavy scale buildup in pipes or appliances. However, the combination of chloride and sodium means some families report a salty taste.
We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel to find out exactly what is in your well, since every well varies across the county. Your well could have higher or lower levels than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know what treatment your family needs. A full panel typically costs between two hundred and four hundred dollars, and treatment options like ion exchange filters or reverse osmosis systems can address multiple concerns at once.
Not sure if your well is affected? Get certified results in 5–7 days.
Test Your Well Water with Tap Score →| Contaminant | Samples ⓘ | % Above MCL ⓘ | Distribution ⓘ | Confidence ⓘ | Risk ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 53 | 11% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Iron | 39 | 10% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 53 | 9% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Manganese | 12 | 8% | Low | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Lead | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 41 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 53 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Uranium | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 53 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 47 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 52 | — | Moderate | Low |
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level (EPA limit for public water; used as benchmark for private wells). Distribution shows % of sampled wells in each concentration band. Methodology.
* Microbial contaminants (E. coli, coliform) reflect only samples from the last 10 years.
Data shows potential risk — a certified test confirms whether your water is affected.
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